Jeremy Pernell: A Potent Portal Pickup for Nebraska’s Offensive Line

Known for his tenacity and with more than 1,600 Big 12 and SEC snaps under his belt, Micah Mazzccua should add an edge to the Husker football running game as the likely starter at left guard.

Micah Mazzccua during a 2024 Nebraska football spring practice. / Nebraska Athletics via X

Sixth in a series. Previous installments: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Even after losing starting guards Ethan Piper and Nouredin Nouili to graduation, Nebraska returns one of the most experienced offensive lines in the Big Ten. It should also be the best line we've seen in Lincoln in several seasons.

Bryce Benhart has 41 career starts at right tackle — tied for the most in program history for an O-lineman. He was named honorable-mention All-Big Ten for his play last season. As was Ben Scott, who came to Nebraska via Arizona State last offseason and started 11 games at center for the Huskers, bringing his career total to 39. Both would be in NFL training camps right now but decided to come back for a sixth year instead.

Nebraska is locked in at those spots and both should be among the best in the Big Ten at their respective positions again this season.

There should also be really good competition at the other three spots.

Most people are probably ready to write Teddy Prochazka's name in pen at left tackle, but don't sleep on Turner Corcoran taking that spot back.

Prochazka (11 career starts) might have the highest ceiling in the room. After having his promising career derailed by back-to-back season-ending injuries in 2021 and 2022, he seemed to finally get healthy during the last half of the 2023 season. His best football is still ahead and the last two Husker staffs have been high on his potential.

Corcoran was the first true freshman to ever start at left tackle for Nebraska. The senior had started 30 consecutive games — 31 in total — before a foot injury against Northwestern last October ended his season. He's played all across the line during his career; LT (26 starts), LG (3) and RT (2) — but seems best suited for the interior. He's being earmarked for tackle as fall camp opens, but could he find his way inside as the team looks to field its best five players?

The staff is excited about sophomore Justin Evans, who played in all 12 contests last season, starting five games at center (1) and guard (4). He'll fight for one of the guard jobs this fall and is considered the heir apparent at center after Ben Scott leaves.

Rounding out the interior is Henry Lutovsky, who we learned on Saturday is likely going to miss most of camp because of a calf injury. A favorite of the previous staff, the junior has played in 26 career games primarily at right guard with four starts under his belt.

Coaches are also very high on several first- and second-year guys in the room such as Gunnar Gottula, Sam Sledge, Grant Brix, Gibson Pyle, Preston Taumua and Jake Peters.

Offensive line wasn’t necessarily toward the top of the Huskers’ transfer portal wish list this offseason. Nebraska was confident in the room it had coming back, but like head coach Matt Rhule has said, this program will never turn down a talented offensive or defensive lineman.

Florida Gators offensive lineman Micah Mazzccua takes a water break between drills on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. / Doug Engle / USA TODAY NETWORK

Micah Mazzccua began his career at Baylor. After being committed to Michigan for almost a year, Mazzccua, who was selected to play in the Under Armour All-American game, flipped and signed with Baylor late in the 2020 class. Although Rhule had left to take the Carolina Panthers job a few weeks prior, it was he and his staff who laid the groundwork for the eventual change of heart.

After redshirting his first season in Waco, Mazzccua saw action in nine games in 2021 for a Baylor team that won the Big 12 Championship. He played a total of 139 snaps for the Bears at left guard earning a very solid 74.3 run blocking grade from Pro Football Focus.

As a sophomore in 2022, he played in 11 games — making 10 starts — at left guard, playing a total of 759 snaps. Mazzccua's 74.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus was second-best among guards in the Big 12 that season and he finished ninth among all Power 5 guards with a 78.5 run blocking grade. Mazzccua also recorded 14 "big-time blocks", according to PFF, which was tied for second among all guards nationally.

Mazzccua decided to enter the transfer portal after the season on Dec. 18, 2022. Matt Rhule — who formerly coached at Temple in Mazzccua's hometown of Philadelphia — and the Huskers got involved immediately. Several coaches on staff, including strength coach Corey Campbell, had either worked with Mazzccua at Baylor or helped recruit him to Waco.

There was a period that offseason when Nebraska was viewed as the favorite to land Mazzccua. He took an official visit to Lincoln and even though his parents, Monica and Maurice Sr., recommended the Huskers to Micah, he surprised some when he ultimately chose Florida on Jan. 11, 2023.

There were early signs a marriage to the Gators wouldn't last. Despite being singled out by coaches for his strong play during spring ball, Mazzccua tweeted his intentions to re-enter the transfer portal for undisclosed reasons on March 23, although he later deleted the tweet and stayed in Gainesville.

Mazzccua would go on to start 11 games at right guard this past season for the Gators, only missing Week 4's contest against Charlotte, due to suspensions imposed by both the SEC and UF for his role in a late-game on-field tussle against Tennessee the week prior.

He played 743 snaps, with only three Gators on offense playing more than him. Mazzccua graded as one of the best pass (69.1) and run (68.4) blockers on the O-line, according to Pro Football Focus.

Following the season, Mazzccua was set to declare for the NFL draft before the NCAA ruled in late December that multi-time transfers moving during this academic year could immediately play elsewhere in 2024.

So Mazzccua pivoted and decided to re-enter the transfer portal on Dec. 28.

Once again Mazzccua received a lot of attention. He took trips to Arkansas and Syracuse, but Nebraska remained front of mind after he regretfully passed on joining the program a year earlier.

A mulligan this time around would also provide the opportunity to play with his older brother. Maurice Jr. joined the Huskers last August from NCAA Division II West Chester and has one year left as a walk-on running back. The two are only 16 months apart but have played just two football seasons as teammates.

Micah had long felt comfortable with Rhule and his staff, but having his brother vouch for their authenticity went a long way. Having visited Lincoln a year ago, another trip wasn’t necessary to make his decision.

Mazzccua announced he was transferring to Nebraska on Jan. 10. Unlike last offseason when most fans and media were expecting his addition, the news came by surprise this time around.

Sep 16, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators offensive linemen Richie Leonard IV (67) and Micah Mazzccua (54) celebrate a touchdown against Tennessee. / Chris Watkins-USA TODAY Sports

As often has been the case with incoming transfers, it took some time for Mazzccua to meet the standards of the program. “Micah’s a talented player,” Matt Rhule said earlier this year. “Micah’s going to have to do all the things I just talked about. He’s going to have to understand that at the University of Nebraska, we work, we grind, we pay the price. It’s not about what we did; it’s about what we’re trying to do.”

You have to love the transparency of Matt Rhule and the accountability of Mazzccua. The former Baylor Bear and Florida Gator took those comments to heart. By the time the spring game rolled around, he was the starting left guard.

During Saturday's press conference previewing the 1890 fundraiser practice, Rhule commented, "Micah's having a really good camp, which is great. I've been very blunt about Micah and I like where his head's at, I like where his practice is at. Micah's having a good camp."

A multi-year starter across two conferences, Mazzccua played on the left side at Baylor for two seasons and the right side at Florida. His addition gives Nebraska a plug-and-play option at either interior spot. In 1,641 career snaps playing in the Big 12 and SEC, Mazzccua has only given up a total of four sacks, six QB hits and 21 QB hurries.

The 6-foot-5, 325-pounder is a physically imposing guard and a well-respected run blocker. Known for his tenacity, Mazzccua should add an edge to the Husker running game as the likely starter at left guard.

Along with Benhart and Scott, Mazzccua is a legitimate 2025 NFL prospect who will try to boost his stock by standing out in the Big Ten.

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